KU Department of Spanish & Portuguese: Fall 2023 Newsletter
Message from the Chair:
“Our fall semester has been off to a wonderful start, with several visiting speakers, including Ben Fraser of the University of Arizona, the Mexican filmmaker José Luis Solís, and our own Professor Emerita Jill Kuhnheim. As the Interim Chair of the Department of Spanish and Portuguese, I am happy to work with all of you to support you in any way that I can.”
- Jonathan Mayhew, Interim Chair of the Dept. of Spanish & Portuguese
Year in Review
Look back at some of our department's activities and student achievements over the past academic year:
Congratulations, graduates!
Our department was thrilled to host an in-person Graduation & Honors Recognition Ceremony for our students this year on April 27th, 2023.
The department’s tradition is to host this annual event in order to recognize our graduating seniors and to award our most outstanding Spanish and Portuguese students for their excellent work. We also celebrate our graduate students for their outstanding teaching and research, and congratulate those who have completed their degrees in our department. We thank everyone for an exceptional turnout!
Photos and awards from the ceremony are available on our 2023 event page.
New Ph.D Recipients
Andrés Rabinovich
Andrés has since accepted a position as an Assistant Instructional Professor in Spanish at the University of Chicago.
Ariadna Tenorio
Ariadna has since accepted a position at the University of Florida as an Assistant Professor at the University of Florida's Center for Latin American Studies.
Luis Felipe Lomelí
Luis has since accepted a position as a Lecturer at the University of Florida's Center for Latin American Studies.
Video Projects Showcase Creativity
Guided by their instructors, our Spanish students tapped into their creativity by producing video projects that required them to apply their linguistic skills in a practical setting. As all class work in these courses is encouraged to be conducted fully in Spanish, the process of conceptualizing, scripting, and performing these video projects can be a great exercise for solidifying one's language acquisition and confidence in speaking to an audience.
SPAN 326: Spanish for Healthcare Workers
Instructor: Megan Sheldon
Taking inspiration from Isabel Coixet's Un corazón roto no es como un jarrón roto o un florero, these short films use different cinematic genres (science fiction, action/adventure, mockumentary, drama) to illustrate various medical conditions. Check out how SPAN 326 students battle a zombie outbreak, treat narcolepsy, prepare for workouts and avoid peanut allergies!
(Above video: "La Cura" by Maleah Marquez, Alex Secaida y Tarin McNickle)
See all SPAN 326 video projects
SPAN 448: Spanish Language & Culture for Business
Instructor: Miguel Ángel Albújar-Escuredo
In this course, students carried out a research project for months to offer a reflection in Spanish on the economic and financial situation of Latin America and its future provisions.
(Above video: "Chile: El catalizador económica de América del Sur" by Chris Ritter)
Woodyard Lecture
The George & Eleanor Woodyard Lecture series showcases innovative research in Spanish & Portuguese topics, featuring guest lecturers from universities around the world. The series is made possible by funds endowed by the late George Woodyard, and his wife, Eleanor.
George Woodyard was a professor in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese from 1966 to 2005; he later became the University's first Dean of International Studies in 1989. For narrative accounts of George’s life and achievements, see: Vicky Unruh, “A Virtuoso Performance: George Woodyard and Latin American Theatre,” which was published in the KU journal Latin American Theatre Review 30.2 (1997): 7-16.
The KU Department of Spanish and Portuguese hosts these lectures in the Woodyard's honor.
2023 Event - On Earth or In Poems: The Many Lives of al-Andalus
This year's George & Eleanor Woodyard Lecture took place April 20th, 2023, at the Sabatini Multicultural Resource Center. The event featured guest speaker Eric Calderwood, who is an Associate Professor of Comparative and World Literature at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and author of the award-winning Colonial al-Andalus. Calderwood's presentation discussed key findings in his latest publication, On Earth or In Poems: The Many Lives of al-Andalus, which explores the complexities surrounding the historic and present-day perspectives of al-Andalus.
Visit by Film Director José Luis Solís Olivares
Our department was joined by film director José Luis Solís Olivares for a series of talks related to his latest work, "La alberca de los nadies," or "The Pool of the Nobodies."
The week began with a screening of the remarkable independent film, "The Pool of the Nobodies." The film has received international acclaim, winning the Best Feature Film award at eight prestigious International Film Festivals, including the Fabrique du Cinema and Cineverse. The story focuses not only on the difficult plight of immigrants, but also highlights the creativity and talent of José Luis Solís as a director.
Following the screening, José Luis Solís led the presentation, "Graphic/Non-Graphic Violence in Contemporary Mexican Cinema." The talk explored the portrayal of violence in Mexican cinema, offering perspectives from both within the film industry and from an academic standpoint.
Event flyer featuring the film poster for "The Pool of the Nobodies"
Event flyer for the Sept. 15th talk, "Graphic/Nongraphic violence in Contemporary Mexican Cinema"
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with the LJCC
Learn more about Mexican-Jewish cuisine, culture, and literature by joining us for two events hosted in collaboration with the Lawrence Jewish Community Congregation:
Author's Talk with Gabriela Riveros Elizondo (virtual)
Friday, Sept. 29th, 2023 | 12:00 - 1:00pm via Zoom
Join Mexican novelist Gabriela Riveros Elizondo for a discussion of her 2022 historical novel, Olvidarás el Fuego (You'll forget the fire). Elizondo will speak about her 2022 novel Olvidarás el Fuego (You'll forget the fire), which was inspired by the memoirs of Joseph Lumbroso (né Luis de Carvajal).
Sephardic Cuisine of the Conquest - Fundraising Dinner
Sunday, October 1st, 2023 | 4:00pm - 7:00pm at the Lawrence Jewish Community Congregation
The LJCC in collaboration with KU's Department of Spanish and Portuguese and KU's Jewish Studies Program invites you to celebrate Hispanic Heritage month at this kosher fundraising dinner. Professor Rafael Acosta-Morales will be serving up a delicious meal of Sephardic cuisine typical of Northeastern Mexico, including Cortadillo (kosher beef stew), zucchini in pipian negro (vegetarian option), and more.
Brazilian Studies at KU
Our department, along with the Center for Latin American & Carribean Studies and the Center for Global & International Studies, is dedicated to promoting Brazilian culture in our local communities. Over the last year, the University of Kansas hosted several academic lectures and panels discussing historical and contemporary aspects of Brazilian culture, including:
- Brazilian Politics Today: A Conversation with Leonardo Sakamoto
- Modern Slavery & Human Trafficking in Brazil: Climate Change & Global Production Networks (also featuring Leonardo Sakamoto)
- The Middle East & Latin America
Our department also hosted a variety of other events, including our Portuguese language practice table, Capoeira Club, and even watch parties for Brazil's appearances at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Events & News
It's already shaping up to be an exciting academic year! Check out some of our planned events and activities for the upcoming months:
Graduate Program Open House
National Hispanic Heritage Month @ KU
The KU Department of Spanish & Portuguese has planned several events in celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, which continues through October 15th! Our next events include a Latin Dance Class, a talk with Mexican novelist Gabriela Riveros Elizondo, and more.
The Job Market in 2023
Each year, the department of Spanish & Portuguese organizes a series of workshops discussing the latest trends in the job market and the skills needed to efficiently navigate them. These events are free and open to anybody interested in exploring the various opportunities of today.
Language Practice Tables
Our Spanish and Portuguese language practice tables are in session for the Fall semester! These tables are open to the public and free of charge. Please follow the links below to view upcoming meeting schedules.
Tutoring and Writing Help
Need help in your Spanish courses? KU now offers individual tutoring for select Spanish courses, including 104, 108, 212, 216, and more. The KU Writing Center also newly offers Spanish writing consulting, perfect for students in 300+ courses!
KU Capoeira Club
The KU Capoeira Club has announced its schedule for Fall 2023! Everyone (including non-KU affiliates) is invited to join us in celebrating this art form that combines elements of martial arts, acrobatics, dance, music, and history. Club meets Tuesdays 6-7pm and Saturdays 11am-12pm, upstairs at the ECM at 1204 Oread Avenue.
Upcoming Hybrid Study Abroad Program for 2024
Thanks to an IDEAS grant from the U.S. Department of State, Elizabeth MacGonagle, associate professor of history and African and African-American studies, and Luciano Tosta, associate professor of Spanish & Portuguese, will create KU’s first hybrid study abroad program to be offered during winter break beginning December 2024.
Support our mission!
A donation of any size makes a big difference in the work we do.
The Department of Spanish & Portuguese at the University of Kansas is committed to teaching and research related to the Spanish and Portuguese speaking world. Guided by a vibrant community of scholars, the Department aspires to expand its national and international outreach, to educate new generations of scholar-educators, and to instill in our graduates an understanding of the increasingly complex multicultural society in which we live.
On behalf of our faculty and students, thank you for your generous support. Your contributions help us enrich the academic environment of our department, the University of Kansas, Lawrence and beyond.